Nascar Driver Visits CHS

Published March 26, 2009

NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne made a pit stop at Centennial High School March 19. The nine-time Nextel Cup Series winner was in town to speak with high school juniors and seniors about the importance of safe driving.

Auto crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers in America. A recent study ranks the Nashville area as the fourth deadliest metro region in the nation for teen drivers, while Tennessee ranks sixth as a state. That's one reason why Kahne is partnering with his sponsor, Allstate Insurance, to remind teen drivers about being safe behind the wheel.

"I think kids are aware of people being killed in car wrecks and things like that," said Kahne. "But I also think they tend to think it can't happen to them."

While speaking to the students at Centennial, Kane urged the teens to wear their seatbelts at all times and to avoid distractions like cell phones when they driving.

"You can't be driving and texting," says Kahne. "That's one thing you can't do. And talking on the phone is the same thing."

In addition to speaking with the students about safe driving, Kahne gave autographed hats to some of the teens. The kids were also encouraged to pick up a blue wrist band as they left the auditorium to remind them of all the teenagers killed in auto crashes every year.

For many of the students, Kahne's message of staying safe behind the wheel really hit home. "Sometimes I buckle my seatbelt and sometimes I don't," said Centennial High School junior Megan Johnson. "But now I always will."